Elmont, New York
Encyclopedia
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead
Town of Hempstead, New York
Hempstead is one of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, United States, occupying the southwest part of the county. There are twenty-two incorporated villages completely or partially in the town. Hempstead's combined population was 759,757 at the 2010 Census, the majority of the population...
in Nassau County, New York
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
, along its border with the borough of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The population was 33,198 at the 2010 census.
Elmont is famous as the home of Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
which hosts the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
, the third leg of the prestigious Triple Crown
United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
In the United States, the "Triple Crown" is usually the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, a series of three Thoroughbred horse races for three-year-old horses run in May and early June of each year consisting of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.While Daily Racing Form...
of thoroughbred racing.
History
In 1650, Christopher and Thomas Foster purchased a large plot of land controlled by DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
settlers with the intention of raising cattle and sheep. They named this place “Foster’s Meadow” — a name which would remain for the next 200 years of the village’s history. Control of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
shifted to England in 1664, marking the first gradual cultural shift in Foster’s Meadow with the establishment of a community of predominantly English, Protestant farmers and their families. In 1683, Long Island was divided into three counties, Kings, Queens and Suffolk Counties; under this new structure, Foster’s Meadow was part of Queens County
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
. The current boundaries of Elmont were decided upon in 1898; at this point, Nassau County
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
was erected, leading to conflict over land and monies owed as a result of Elmont’s boundary shift from Queens. It was during the mid-19th century that Foster’s Meadow experienced its second cultural shift, with the influx of farmers from Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
and Middle Village to the west. These groups were largely of German descent and practiced Catholicism. Indeed the Catholic population in Foster’s Meadow grew to the extent that St. Boniface Church was built in 1852, providing a focal point for the gradual development of a Catholic population base.
The community underwent its next political reshuffling in 1882, being subdivided into districts with unique names and boundaries (including Alden Manor and Locustwood); it was at this time that Foster’s Meadow was renamed Elmont.
Arguably the most significant milestone in the development of modern-day Elmont was the building of the Belmont Racetrack in 1905. In this year, 620 acres (2.5 km²) were purchased on the edge of the region and by 1915, the Racetrack was opened to the public, attracting both visitors and migrant workers to the area. Housing developments and businesses grew in the area surrounding the racetrack to meet the needs of these workers; this process of development to meet the workers’ needs continued in successive waves, ultimately representing a shift in Elmont from rural farmland to suburbia.
With the opening of Belmont Racetrack in 1905, Elmont reached a turning point in its history. The farms were sold and subdivided for houses, most of them owned by people who worked at Belmont Racetrack. Many business were formed on Hempstead Turnpike to support the blooming suburban location. The first air race in the United States was held at Belmont Racetrack, including a race from Elmont to the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
and back.
The first intercity airmail service between New York and Washington, D.C. in 1918 used Belmont Park in Elmont as the terminal for New York.
Post-World War II saw widespread development of attractive suburban tract homes. Many of these homes were constructed with a brick-veneer ground story over basement in variations of the cape style to the south and east of Hempstead Turnpike, while older, smaller shingled homes cluster near the racetrack.
Education
Long Island and Nassau County specifically are consistently ranked nationally for providing outstanding education.Elmont is served by the nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, Elmont Memorial High School
Elmont Memorial High School
Elmont Memorial Junior-Senior High School is a co-educational, secondary public high school founded in 1956 for students in grades 7-12 in the hamlet of Elmont, Long Island, New York, in Nassau County....
which is part of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
Sewanhaka Central High School District
The Sewanhaka Central High School District is a central high school district located in western Nassau County on Long Island, in New York State. The district is currently composed of five high schools: Sewanhaka High School, Elmont Memorial High School, New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Floral...
. Elmont Memorial High School, former lacrosse powerhouse, recently was recognized as having the largest percentage of African-American high school students receive a "3" or higher on Advanced Placement tests nationally.
The Elmont Union Free School District provides outstanding primary school education for Elmont residents. In 2005, the Elmont Union Free School District was recognized by the New York State Comptroller as one of 5 out of 52 districts cited as "well managed."
Closest elementary schools
- Dutch Broadway School(Grades K-6, Students: 997)
- Clara H. Carlson School(Grades K-6, Students: 885)
- Gotham Avenue School(Grades K-6, Students: 814)
- Covert Avenue School(Grades K-6, Students: 721)
- Alden Terrace School(Grades K-6, Students: 550)
- Stewart Manor School(Grades K-6, Students: 344)
Closest high schools
- Elmont Memorial Junior-Senior High SchoolElmont Memorial High SchoolElmont Memorial Junior-Senior High School is a co-educational, secondary public high school founded in 1956 for students in grades 7-12 in the hamlet of Elmont, Long Island, New York, in Nassau County....
(Grades 7–12, Students: 2,749) - H. Frank Carey Memorial Junior-Senior High SchoolH. Frank Carey Junior/Senior High SchoolH. Frank Carey High School is a public high school located in Franklin Square, New York serving students in the seventh through twelfth grades from the towns of Garden City South, West Hempstead, Elmont and Franklin Square. The school's principal is Mrs. Valerie Angelillo. The assistant principals...
(Grades 7–12, Students: 1,831) - New Hyde Park Memorial Junior-Senior High SchoolNew Hyde Park Memorial High SchoolNew Hyde Park Memorial Junior/Senior High School is a six-year public high school in New Hyde Park, New York, as part of the Sewanhaka Central High School District. Like the four other high schools in the Sewanhaka Central district, the school is home to grades 7 to 12, a combined middle and high...
(Grades 7–12, Students: 1,655) - Sewanhaka Memorial Junior-Senior High SchoolSewanhaka High SchoolSewanhaka High School is a six-year public high school located in Floral Park, New York, United States, as part of the Sewanhaka Central High School District. The school's sports teams are known as "The Indians" and the team colors are purple, gold, and white. The school's name translates to...
(Grades 7–12, Students: 1,567) - Floral Park Memorial Junior-Senior High SchoolFloral Park Memorial High SchoolFloral Park Memorial High School is a coeducational, public high school in Floral Park, New York, United States. It is one of five schools in the Sewanhaka Central High School District...
(Grades 7–12, Students: 1,510)
Closest colleges and universities
- Molloy CollegeMolloy CollegeMolloy College is located in Rockville Centre, New York, a Nassau County community on Long Island, in the United States. with a brand new, state-of-the art residential facility. It also has a new 550 seat performing arts facility-- The Madison Theatre...
(Rockville Centre, NY) - Nassau Community CollegeNassau Community CollegeNassau Community College is a two-year college. It is located in East Garden City, New York, USA. The school is in Nassau County on Long Island. NCC maintains a nationwide reputation for academic excellence and ease of transferability to four-year institutions.- History :Created as part of the...
(Full time Enrollment: 13,710; 5 miles (8 km), Garden City, NY) - Adelphi UniversityAdelphi UniversityAdelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
(Full time Enrollment: 5,300; 5 miles (8 km), Garden City, NY) - CUNYCity University of New YorkThe City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
Queensborough Community CollegeQueensborough Community CollegeNot to be confused with Queens College, City University of New YorkQueensborough Community College , is one of six community colleges within the City University of New York system. It is located in the neighborhood of Bayside, Queens County, New York City, New York. The total enrollments are...
(Full Time Enrollment: 7,431; 6 miles (9.7 km), New York, NY) - St. John's University-New YorkSt. John's University (New York City)St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
(Full Time Enrollment: 15,070; 7 miles (11.3 km), Jamaica, New York, NY) - Hofstra UniversityHofstra UniversityHofstra University is a private, nonsectarian institution of higher learning located in the Village of Hempstead, New York, United States, about east of New York City: less than an hour away by train or car...
(Full Time Enrollment: 10,842; 8 miles (12.9 km), Hempstead, NY) - CUNY Queens CollegeQueens College, City University of New YorkQueens College, located in Flushing, Queens, New York City, is one of the senior colleges of the City University of New York. It is also the fifth oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning. The college's seventy seven acre campus is located in the heart of the...
(Full Time Enrollment: 10, 278; 9 miles (14.5 km), Flushing, New York, NY)
Transportation
Elmont is located on the border of Queens County of New York City and Nassau County.Closest airports include:
- John F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International AirportJohn F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
(7 miles, New York, NY) - LaGuardia AirportLaGuardia AirportLaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
(13 miles, New York, NY) - Sands Point Seaplane BaseSands Point Seaplane BaseSands Point Seaplane Base is a seaplane landing area located in Manhasset Bay, two miles northwest of the central business district of Port Washington, in Nassau County, New York, USA. During part of the 1930s Sands Point served as the New York base of the Boeing 314....
(public use, 10 miles (16.1 km), Port Washington, Long Island, NY)
The MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) provides race-day-only passenger service to Belmont Park from Jamaica and Penn Station. Elmont is near the Floral Park
Floral Park (LIRR station)
Floral Park is a Long Island Rail Road train station in Floral Park, New York at Tulip and Atlantic Avenues, on the Main Line and Hempstead Branch just west of their split...
, New Hyde Park
New Hyde Park (LIRR station)
New Hyde Park is a train station on the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road. It is located at New Hyde Park Road and 2nd Avenue in New Hyde Park, New York. The station house is near the eastern part of the westbound platform...
and Valley Stream
Valley Stream (LIRR station)
Valley Stream is a station on the Long Island Rail Road's Atlantic Branch serving the residents of Valley Stream, and is the first station in Nassau County. The station is located at Franklin Avenue and Sunrise Highway, west of Rockaway Avenue, and is 17.7 miles from Penn Station in Midtown...
stations of the LIRR which provide regular commuter service to NYC.
The Long Island Bus system, part of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), serves Elmont with Long Island Bus Routes 1 (Elmont Road/Central Ave.), 2 (Meacham Ave./N Fletcher Ave.), 6 (Hempstead Turnpike) & 8 (Franklin Ave./Dutch Broadway/Hook Creek Blvd.) for connections to the LIRR & NYC subways and buses.
Elmont is located at the junction of the Cross Island Parkway
Cross Island Parkway
Cross Island Parkway, also known as the 100th Infantry Division Parkway, is a parkway within New York State. The parkway is a part of the Belt Parkway system that runs along the perimeter of the borough of Queens in New York City...
, Belt Parkway
Belt Parkway
The Belt System is a series of connected limited-access highways that form a belt-like circle around the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The system comprises four officially separate parkways; however, three of the four are signed as the Belt Parkway...
, and Southern State Parkway
Southern State Parkway
The Southern State Parkway is a long limited-access highway on Long Island, in the U.S. state of New York...
, providing quick access to the Long Island Parkway system. Elmont is about 7 miles (11.3 km) from the Long Island Expressway and 10 miles (16.1 km) from the Throgs Neck Bridge
Throgs Neck Bridge
The Throgs Neck Bridge is a suspension bridge opened on January 11, 1961, which carries Interstate 295 over the East River where it meets the Long Island Sound. The bridge connects the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx with the Bay Terrace section of Queens...
for travel upstate.
Geography
Elmont is located at 40.701641°N 73.702458°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), all land.
Elmont is on the Queens(NYC)/Nassau County border, earning it the name "The Gateway to Long Island."
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 32,657 people, 12,902 households and 10,842 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 9,589.9 per square mile (3,697.6/km2). There were 10,151 housing units at an average density of 2,980.9/sq mi (1,149.4/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 23.56% White, 43.69% African American, 0.43% Native American, 9.09% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 5.69% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.31% of the population.
There were 10,902 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.29 and the average family size was 3.68.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $62,511, and the median income for a family was $68,646. Males had a median income of $40,182 versus $35,203 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $22,111. About 5.4% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Houses of worship
- St. Vincent De Paul (Roman Catholic)
- St. Boniface (Roman Catholic)
- Elmont Jewish Center (Orthodox)
- Temple B'nai Israel of Elmont (Reform)
- Muhammadi Mosque (Islam)
- Emanuel Baptist Church of Elmont (Baptist)
Notable residents
- Vinny TestaverdeVinny TestaverdeVincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
, NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and Heisman AwardHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner - Donna OrenderDonna OrenderDonna Orender is a sports executive and a former collegiate and professional basketball player. She was recently president of the WNBA. She grew up on Long Island, New York and was a five-sport athlete in high school, lettering in basketball, field hockey, volleyball, softball, and tennis. She is...
(née Geils), Women's Pro Basketball League All-Star & current WNBA president - Nelson DeMilleNelson DeMilleNelson Richard DeMille is an American author of thriller novels. His works include Word of Honor , The Charm School, The Gold Coast, Plum Island, and The General's Daughter .DeMille has also written under the pen names Jack Cannon, Kurt...
, Author - Comedian Andy KaufmanAndy KaufmanAndrew Geoffrey "Andy" Kaufman was an American entertainer, actor and performance artist. While often referred to as a comedian, Kaufman did not consider himself one...
is buried in Beth David Cemetery.